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The annual Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic kicks off in Cathedral City, California on Thursday, and with some of the nation’s best teams in attendance, the tournament is sure to deliver some quality matchups throughout the weekend.
The event has 31 teams including three “non-college” teams in Team Japan, ScrapYard Fastpitch and the NPF All-Stars to mix in some pro and international play as well!
And of this week’s Extra Inning Softball/JWOS Power Rankings, there are eight of the Top 25 who will be competing: UCLA, Oklahoma, Washington, Texas Tech, Arizona, Oregon, Oklahoma State and Arizona State.
Kirk Walker, the founder and co-owner of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, along with Deb Hartwig, the other co-owner, annually put on one of the best tournaments in the nation.
Says Walker of this year’s event, “We are excited for the traditional top tier collegiate programs to again match up for some of the top preseason games of 2019.”
“In addition we are excited to give the opportunity to showcase the reigning Olympic gold medalists and other international players along with professional softball athletes from the Scrapyard Dawgs and the NPF.”
Here are some of the college games that we’ve highlighted from the packed Mary Nutter Classic schedule as we count down from No. 10 to No. 1 with details on why we think these will be intriguing contests of interest.
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10. Long Beach State vs. Arizona
Two teams that are traditionally quite good, but have left fans and pundits alike in a bit of a quandary to start the 2019 season. Kim Sowder’s 49ers have begun the season with a lackluster 4-5 record that includes losses to North Dakota; UNLV; Fresno State; Oregon State; and Boise State. The team’s biggest win thus far came in a rematch against the same Oregon State squad. The Niners’ MNCC schedule includes Texas Tech, North Carolina, Northwestern, and Cal, in addition to Arizona… for the Wildcats’ part, their 2019 has also brought many questions to mind, especially for those who thought this might be the year that Mike Candrea’s squad returned to Oklahoma City. That still might happen, to be sure, but a 6-4 start to the season has raised some eyebrows for the team in Tucson. After beginning the season in unsurprising fashion, including wins over Michigan and South Florida, and despite losses to Florida and a jumpstart North Carolina State team, the Wildcats went 3-2 in their home tournament this weekend, including losing in a rematch with South Florida and versus Alabama, while the biggest win was a shutout of Cal State Fullerton.
9. Arizona State vs. Oklahoma State
The Sun Devils are 8-2 on the season and have won the games they were “supposed” to win, outside of a run-rule loss to Missouri on opening weekend. The Mary Nutter event will be the team’s first true test, though, with four of their six opponents coming from Power Five conferences… OSU went 3-2 at the St. Pete/Clearwater Invitational in week two, with losses to LSU and Notre Dame and wins over Utah, California, and Hofstra, all teams receiving votes in a national poll. The Cowgirls have hit 12 home runs in the first two weeks of the season, but have also made 16 errors in the field. They are in need of some shoring-up before Big 12 play begins, and the matchup against a WCWS participant from a year ago could go a long way toward that end.
8. Oklahoma vs. Cal State Fullerton
Every year in previewing the MNCC, you always want to look for potential upset matchups. While Oklahoma is a really solid team and unlikely to lose to the Titans, this game could fly under the radar and it shouldn’t. The Titans made some noise in last year’s regional final against UCLA and are a solid team once again this year. CSFU could make it a solid game against the Sooners’ pitching staff.
7. BYU vs. Northwestern
On the surface, this game might not seem like much to write home about. Look a bit below the surface, though, and you’ll see that this game might already have NCAA tournament implications. Northwestern is a quality team that could challenge for a Big Ten championship. BYU is a perennial NCAA tournament-bound team that had to withstand a hearty challenge for the conference crown from eventual second-place team Loyola Marymount last season. It’s the West Coast Conference implications that vault this game to our list: Loyola Marymount has already played, and beaten, Northwestern this season. How the Cougars perform against a common opponent could help forecast how the WCC will turn out in 2019.
6. Oregon vs. New Mexico State
The heavy bats of Kelsey Horton and New Mexico State seemingly always show up, even against top teams. The Ducks are riding a significant high to start the season, already defying expectations to begin the year. Jordan Dail looked like an ace in Week 1, but came back down to earth a little bit in a three-inning, six-run performance against Kentucky in Clearwater. She remains a solid hurler, and don’t forget, she has a pitching coach who is known for stellar rebounds and reclamations. A hot start against a sharp-hitting team like NMSU could be a catalyst to more success for the Ducks in Cathedral City.
5. California vs. Kentucky
After a pair of losses to Louisiana-Lafayette, both winnable games where the Cajuns pulled away and took advantage of an off-day for the Bears’ pitching staff, Cal finished the St. Pete/Clearwater Invitational with a 2-3 record, including losses to Texas, Oklahoma State, and Minnesota, and returning to California with a .500 record. Kentucky is headed in something of the opposite direction, on a more upward trajectory with wins over Hofstra, Utah, Oregon, and James Madison and losses to Oklahoma and Texas. The Wildcats now sit at 6-5 on the year, and this matchup will be a big boost to whichever team comes out on top.
4. Texas A&M vs. Oregon
Two teams that entered the season with the biggest and most pressing questions will face off on Saturday at the Mary Nutter. Oregon has quieted many doubters already, though some questions remains, while some exceptionally-tight games and rough losses have more questions than answers in College Station. After two weeks of the season, the game is almost a must-win for the Aggies, while a victory for Oregon would further help the Ducks’ resume ahead of Pac-12 play.
3. Washington vs. Texas Tech
Off to their hottest start in recent memory, Texas Tech is 10-0 on the season and has a quality pitching duo in Erin Edmoundson and Missy Zoch. The Red Raiders are clicking on all cylinders, with an offense batting .335 as a team and a pair of hitters above the .400 mark. While the Red Raiders may not be undefeated by the team they face the Huskies – it will be the 3rd Pac-12 matchup of the weekend for TTU – a strong performance in what may be the team’s marquee non-conference game of the year… for Washington, they’ve looked really good, though not great to start the season. Even if Texas Tech’s undefeated streak ends before this game, the game is a must-win for the Huskies to once-again solidify their position as a title contender.
2. Kentucky vs. Washington
If you remember the American Gladiators from some decades ago, let’s say that Kentucky fits the role of the challenger who has won 30 points already: A quality opponent, though one that has yet to blossom fully. They’re on the joust and face off against one of the hearty-sized Gladiators that has a firm foothold on the platform. If the challenger can knock off their opponent, it will go a long way to bettering their resume in preparation for the season’s home stretch. If the Gladiator in our tale stands strong, their position at the top should just grow stronger.
1. UCLA vs. Oklahoma
This game not only could have postseason implications, it could be a preview of a face off that could be rematched in Oklahoma City. Both the Bruins and Sooners are odds-on favorites to return to OKC this season. The top-ranked team in the PAC-12, the Bruins are undefeated on the year with four run-rule wins, though their best wins thus far are Ole Miss and Loyola Marymount. The Nutter will showcase the Bruins against top competition for the first time on the young season… Oklahoma lost to consensus #1 team Florida State in the St. Pete/Clearwater Invitational, but have looked impressive otherwise. Mariah Lopez has stepped out ahead of a packed pitching staff, with back-to-back conference Pitcher of the Week awards to her credit. Softball fans will want to follow this one closely.